The price of the PCR test becomes a polemic, how much will it import in 2021?JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The price of the polymerase chain reaction or PCR test has been in the spotlight after Indonesian President Joko Widodo compared the price of the same test in India.The price of the test that detects the Covid-19 virus is much different from the price in Indonesia, which previously averaged Rp 900,000.Most recently, the president again asked for the price to be lowered to a maximum of IDR 275,000 in Java-Bali and IDR 300,000 outside Java-Bali, in line with the enactment of travel conditions for people during the Covid-19 pandemic.Also read: Luhut denies allegations of involvement in the PCR test businessAlthough the conditions have changed again starting this week, the PCR test as a condition of travel is still mandatory for airplane passengers if they have not received a full dose of vaccination.Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated that the current price of PCR in Indonesia, with an average of Rp. 300,000, is the lowest 10 percent at world airports.He even said that he could not equalize the price of the PCR test between Indonesia and India for several reasons.The main reason is because India is already able to produce PCR test kits domestically.The cheap price of PCR in India is also due to the fact that some commodity prices there are cheaper due to the high population."Yes, maybe India is very cheap at Rp. 160,000, but India is the cheapest country for everything besides China. They have domestic production, then the economic cost because the number of people is 2 billion, that was achieved," said Budi at a press conference. evaluation of the PC-PEN program some time ago.Also read: For Airplane Passengers, Mandatory PCR Tests Still Applicable If You Have Not Been Vaccinated Full DoseSo, how many PCR test kits did Indonesia import?Citing the latest BPS import data in August, Tuesday (2/11/2021), imports of PCR test kits in Indonesia are contained in 2 HS codes, namely HS 38220090 and HS 90278030.Throughout August 2021, imports of medical devices in the form of PCR test kits in the two codes were worth US$103.23 million, to be exact US$103,233,623.This figure is equivalent to Rp 1.44 trillion (exchange rate of Rp. 14,000).Indonesia is recorded to have imported this test kit from various countries, such as China, India, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the United States, to Malaysia.Also read: Sandiaga Uno: Tourist Visits to Bali Reducing Due to Mandatory PCR RequirementsFor imports from China, for example, imports enter through several entrances, such as Juanda Airport in Surabaya, Soekarno Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Kualanamu, Kendari, Tanjung Priok, Tanjung Perak, to Tanjung Emas.The import of PCR test kits from China reached 46.55 million US dollars or equivalent to Rp. 651 billion.Meanwhile, from the US, the amount reached 10.16 million US dollars or Rp. 142.2 billion US dollars.As for Japan, it reached 1.05 million US dollars or Rp. 14.7 billion.These three countries are Indonesia's largest trading partners.Indonesia is also recorded to have imported PCR test kits from Malaysia, amounting to US$89,061 or Rp 1.24 billion.Then from India US$60,019 or Rp. 840 million, and from Germany US$3.53 million which is equivalent to Rp. 49.4 billion.Throughout 2021 to August, Indonesia has imported PCR test kits of US$ 548,088,564 or US$ 548.08 million.This amount is equivalent to Rp. 7.67 trillion.Write your comments with the hashtag #JernihBerkomentar and win e-vouchers for 90 winners!Get information and insight selected by Kompas.com editorsDouble check and complete your data.Your data will be used for account verification when you need assistance or when unusual activity is found on your account.Immediately complete your data to join the #JernihBerkomentar program.